Window frames and blinds therefor



Dec. 15, 1964 A. E. KNIGHT wmnow FRAMES AND BLINDS THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 18, 1961 ///V/////// //VV 1 m- I Y H MN ////4////7// UH ON 9 h ALAN Atty? Dec. 15, 1964 A. E. KNIGHT WINDOW FRAMES AND BLINDS THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 18, 1961 Ill// 11/ A lllllllll INVENT R ALAN E. KNi T Dec. 15, 1964 A. E. KNIGHT WINDOW FRAMES AND BLINDS THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 18, 1961 III/[Ill IN VENT R ALAN E. KNi -HT $161,230 WINDOW FRAMES AND BLS THEREFQR Alan E. Knight, Kingswinford, England, assignor to Accordo Blinds Limited, West Croydon, Surrey, England, a company of Great Britain Filed Sept. 18, 1961, Ser. No. 138,756 9 Claims. (Cl. 160-107) This invention has reference to window frames and blinds therefor.

It is known to install, for example in vehicles such as -cean-going vessels, aircraft and railway carriages, window frames fitted with blinds which are operated by mechanisms fitted within the frames. In a typical instance of one such known frame and blind assembly, the blind consists of a pleated fabric sheet of which each of two opposed edges parallel to the pleats is anchored to and along the length of a corresponding one of two bars slidable along guide rods secured to and between fixed top and bottom rails and each extending freely through a system of registering holes on the bars and the several pleats 'of the sheet, the said sheet being adapted to be drawn wholly or partly across the frame interior by cords or equivalent expedients each of which is attached by one end to a corresponding one of the two bars, extends up- .wardly of the frame, through the top rail, passes over one :or more rollers journalled in and transversely of the said rail, and then hangs downwardly along one side and externally of the frame so that its opposite end is accessible for manipulation. If desired, either one of the bars may be anchored to the adjacent one of the two fixed rails and the cords or equivalent expedients may be attached to the other bar so that only the latter may he slid along the guide rods to enable the blind to be drawn across the interior of the frame or collapsed on to the said anchored bar.

A disadvantage of the said known frame and blind assemblies is that the rails are integral parts of or, like the ,guide rods, are fixed permanently Within, the frames so (that should it become necessary to remove a blind or any part of its operating mechanism for replacement or servicing, the corresponding frame must first be removed from the bulkhead or other structure in which it is installed.

The principal object of the present invention is to overcome this disadvantage in a simple, expedient and eco inomical manner by providing an improved window frame and blind assembly which enables the blind and/or any =other component part assembled within the frame to be removed from the said frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved assembly in which the blind operating mechanism is totally enclosed thereby enhancing the appearance of "the assembly.

The above and other objects and advantages of the :invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a typical but non-limiting embodiment of the invention, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 1

In the said drawings: I

FIGURE 1 is a sectional elevation showing a pleated Tblind fitted and collapsed within a window frame.

FIGURE 2 is a section along the line IIII,' FIGURE 1 and shows the blind partially drawn across the interior of the frame.

FIGURE 3 is a section along the line III-HI, FIGURE 1 and shows the frame installed in a surrounding structure.

FIGURE 4 is a section along the line IV-IV, FIG- URE 1.

The window frame 1 shown in the drawings is primarily intended for erection in the bulkhead of a cabin of a liner or similar ocean-going vessel or in the fuselage of an aeroplane although it may be modified, as necessary, to enable it to be erected in the structure of any other passenger-carrying vehicle or in a building. The said United States l atent O frame is fabricated preferably from extruded aluminum alloy or similar light-weight metal or alloy, is rectangu lar in elevation and its head 2, sill 3 and jambs or sides 4, 5 are all of channel shape in cross section and open to the interior of the frame.

A channel section top rail 6 is socketed, mouth-foremost, into and extends along the entire length of the frame head 2, the said top rail is shallower than, and is accommodated wholly within, the said head and is detachably secured in position by bolts 7 which respectively extend through countersunk holes 8 in the base of the rail and engage tapped bushes 9 screwed or otherwise fixed in the crown of the head at equidistant intervals apart along the length of the latter. To minimise any possibility of the frame head or top rail being distorted due to excessive tightening of the bolts into the bushes, a spacing sleeve 10 is provided between and concentrically of each countersunk hole and the corresponding tapped bush so that the shanks of the bolts extend through the interiors of the said sleeves which limit the degree to which the bolts may engage with the bushes and are clamped between the head crown and rail base as the said bolts are tightened within the said bushes.

A bottom rail 11, which again is of channel section, is socketed, mouth-foremost, into and is accommodated Wholly within and extends along the entire length of the sill 3 of the frame 1. The said bottom rail is detachably secured by screws (not shown) extending through countersunk holes in the walls of the sill into engagement with tapped holes in the walls of the rail, so that its crown is located in the mouth of the sill and the external and exposed surface of the said crown is level with the edge of one of the sill walls.

Two guide rods 12 extending between the said top and bottom rails, are accommodated respectively within and midway'b'etween the walls of the frame jambs 4 and 5. One end of each of the said rods is formed with a head or enlargement 13, whereas the opposite end is screwthreaded; the rod extends freely through the bore of a corresponding one of two threaded sleeves 14 screwed into the tap ed bore of a corresponding one of two nuts 15 which are accommodated within the sill 3 and respectively are screwed or otherwise detachably secured in the crown and midway between the walls of the bottom rail in the vicinity of the opposite ends of the said rail. The upper end face of each sleeve 14 is formed with a diametrical slot (not shown) so that the sleeve is adapted to be en gaged and rotated within the corresponding nut by a tool. The threaded end of each guide rod is screwed into a corresponding one of two tapped bushes 16 which, respectively are screwed or otherwise secured in the base and midway between the walls of the top rail in co-axial relationship to the nuts 15. Thus by rotating the guide rods in the appropriate direction about their axes and/or by rotating the sleeves 14 in the appropriate direction within the nuts 15, the heads 13 and sleeves 14 are abutted one against the other to place the said rods in tension.

A blind 17 consisting of a transversely pleatedsheet of fabric extends transversely of the interior of the frame into each'of the jambs 4 and 5 the two opposed ends of the sheet which are parallel to the pleats, being respectively wrapped around and anchored to two bars, namely a locking bar 18 and a draw bar 19, each of which is formed with two holes 20 through which the guide rods 12 extend freely. Each pleat of the sheet is also formed with two holes (not shown) and-the guide rods also extend freely and respectively through these holes. The locking bar 18 is superimposed upon and extends lengthwise of the crown of the bottom rail 11 and is detachably secured to tapped holes in the crown of the rail. Between each of hem its opposite ends and the adjacent guide rod, the draw bar 19 is formed with a holethrough which one end of a corresponding one of two operating cords 22 extends freely; a button 23 which is detachably connected to each of the said cord ends and is of greater area than the corresponding cord-receiving hole in the draw bar, abuts the underside of the said bar to prevent withdrawal of the cords from the bar and enable the blind to be drawn upwards of the frame interior or to be collapsed on to the locking bar, by the cords 22. Each of the operating cords extends upwardly within the corresponding jamb 4 or 5, through a tracing eyelet 24 in the base of the top rail 6,

into the interior of the said rail where it passes over a 7 corresponding one of two rollers 25 journalled' respectively about the axes of spindles 26 which extend between and engage freely in the rail walls vertically above the guide rods 12, the said spindles being held against longitudinal movement by the Walls of the frame head. A third roller 27 which is journalled about the axis of a spindle 28 carried between the rail walls in the same manner as the spindles 26, is located adjacent one of the rollers 25; the operating cord which passes over the other. of the rollers .25, extends along the interiorof the top rail :and over the said third roller 27, and both of the cords extend downwardly between the two adjacent rollers 25, 27, through a third and common tracing eyelet-'29 fixed in the rail base; the said common eyelet 29 (see FIGURE 4) is located adjacent to one of the walls of the top rail and at such a position lengthwise of therail base that the two cords hang downwardly within the frame close to but outside the mouth of the adjacent jamb and their opposite and free ends are readily accessible for manipulation.

cords may be held against longitudinal movement under the action of the blind by wrapping their free ends around a K-cleat (not shown) fixed to the external surface of the jamb wall which is adjacent to the common tracing eyelet and/or by automatic cord grips (also not shown) accommodated within the frame head and associated with each of the rollers 25. V

One wall of the head, sill and each jamb of the frame is deeper than the other'wall and when the frame is erected in the bulkhead 30 of a ships' cabin, as shown in FIGURE 3, or in a wall of any other enclosed space, the frame is erected with thedeeper walls seated against the internal surface of the bulkhead or wall and a continuous externalflange 31 provided on and perpendicularly tothe Said wallsat the level of the edges of the shallower walls, enters The servicing or replacement after erection of the assembly in a bulkhead or wall, such removal is effected quickly and easily, without disturbing any part of the bulkhead or wall or the frame. For example, the blind may be removed by unscrewing the threaded ends of the guide rods 12 from the bushes 16 so that the said rods travel downwardly within the sleeves 14 and the heads 13 move away from the said sleeves, the screws 21 are disengaged from the crown of'the bottom rail 11 so as to release the locking bar 18, and the buttons 23 are disconnected from the operating cords 22 whereupon the blind, and the draw and locking bars may be lifted upwardly ofthe guide rods beyond the said threaded ends or, alternatively, the sleeves 14 may be unscrewed'from the nuts 15 so that the guide rods, blind and bars may be removed from the frame simultaneously, It, in addition, or alternatively either of the operating cords and/ or any one of the rollers require attention, the bolts 7 are unscrewed from the bushes 9 whereupon the top rail, together with the rollers and cords, may be removed bodily from the head of the frame.

Further, the glass or like sheet is removable merely by disengaging the screws 34 from the wider flan e 31 so that the glazing bead may be withdrawn from with-' in the said flange. The reassembly or replacement of any of the removed items is effected by reversing the sequence of operations. i

Since the rollers are carried withiri the top rail and the latter is socketed wholly within the frame head, and sings the operating cords are accommodated partly withinthe top rail and partly within the frame janibs along which the guide rods also extend, t-he blind operating itiecha nism, apart from the depending cord ends, is wholly en closed and obscured from view thereby enhancing the appearance of the assembly when erected in position.

Although the invention has been particularly described with reference to a window frame'and pleated fabric blind therefor, primarily intended for erection in an ocean-going the seat by an aluminium or like metal glazing bead 33 which fits within the flange and is secured in position by bolts 34 extending freely through countersunk holes in "the head into engagement with tapped'holes inthe flang ei. An external continuous flange 35 which pr'ojectsfrom the free edges of the shallower; walls of the frame head,

vessel or other passenger vehicle and wherein the blind is anchored to two bars of-which one is detachably secured to the bottom rail, it is to be understodd that the invention is not. to be limited to this specific arrangement since various modifications may be made withoutde'par'ting from the scope of the following claims. For example, the locking bar need not be fixed to. thebottom rail in which case ends of additional cords which passfreely through holes in the pleats of the blind andtracing eye lets in the base of the top rail and over the same or addi ti'onal'rollers journalledin the walls of the said top rail, may be anchored to the ends'of thelocking ba'r sothat the latter may be raised or lowered along the guide rods. Also, the frame may be modified to render it suitable for erection in a building and/ or, by making theIwallsof the head, sill and jambsof the same depth and providing both wallsjwith continuous, externalv and peripheral flanges whichare spaced from the wall edges, the frame may be 7 'glazed on both sides of. theblind..

sill and jambs, is narrower than the glazing flange 31 and serves as a seat for the edges of panelling 36, the joint between the said flange and panelling being masked'by a wooden'or like b ead 37 which may be held in position by any known and suitable means,@

free endsof the operatingcords mayibe'readily accessible from the interiorof the cabinor other enclosed space in.

whichthe windowframe and blind assembly is erected;

'1 The blind may be made of any suitable pleatablemate rial other than fabric, or be composed of .anumber of metal or equivalent strips hingedtogether 'edge t6-dge; alternatiyely, the blind may consist-10f a system ofsuperimposed slats through each of which the guide rods extend V freely'and -e'ach of. whichis pivoted about a longitudinal i axis'and is adapted to be swung about the'saidaxis, in

the

the sameforsimilar manner as the slats of a venetian blind, by manually operable members of the blind operating mechanism detachably connected to all the said'superimposed slats. Further'and obviously, theframe' may be so erected in a wall or like structure that the rails are arranged vertically instead of horizontally.

T 1 f IdaWindoW, the combination of a frame adapted to be permanently secured ina wall structure'andhaving 1 two opp'osed parallel, 'channel sectionsides which open.

tothe interiorof the rran ww rails respectiyely-seatedz.

wholly within and extending substantially from end to end of the said sides to close the side channels, at least one of said rails being of U-shaped channel section and having its mouth adjacent to the floor of the side in which it is seated, means accessible from inside said frame for detachably securing said rails in the corresponding sides, parallel guide rods extending between the said rails, means for releasing the guide rails accessible from inside said frame detachably securing the guide rods to said one channel section rail, anchor means releasably securing the guide rods the other rail and so arranged that when a guide rod is detached from said channel section rail the guide rod is displaceable longitudinally in the said other rail and away from the channel section rail, a foldable v blind slideably carried by said guide rods, and mechanism for drawing the blind across the interior of the frame along the guide rods, said mechanism being removably mounted within said channel section rail for removal after disassembly of the channel section rail from the frame side, said mechanism also including means for operating the blind which extends through the floor of said channel section rail into the interior of the frame where it is detachably connected to the blind.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said mechanism comprises a plurality of rollers disposed within said channel section rail, each roller being journalled about the axis of a corresponding spindle transverse to the rail and carried freely in opposed apertures in the walls of said rail, said spindles being held against longitudinal movement by the walls of the corresopnding frame side, said means for operating the blind comprising cords adapted to draw the blind across the interior of the frame along the guide rods, each cord being detachably secured at one end to the blind and extending through the floor of the channel section rail, the other end of each cord after passing over at least one of said rollers extending back through the said floor to the interior of the frame.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said means for detachably securing the rails comprises spacing sleeves between the floor of said channel section rail and the floor of the corresponding frame side, and bolts extending freely through the floor of the said channel section rail and spacing sleeves into engagement with the floor of the said corresponding side.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each of said parallel guide rods has a headed end and a threaded end, said anchor means comprising a tapped bush for each guide secured in the floor of the said channel section rail, and a sleeve detachably secured to the other of the said rails, the said headed end of the guide rod extending freely through the bore of said last named sleeve and the said threaded end of the guide rod engaging said tapped bush.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said sleeve of said anchor means is threaded in the bore of a tapped bush secured to the said other rail.

6. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said frame is rectangular and further comprises a second pair of opposed, parallel, channel section sides, both pairs of said sides being open to the interior of the frame, said pair of guide rods being located respectively within the walls of said second pair of frame sides.

7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein a continuous flange projects perpendicularly from the external surface of at least one wall of each of the frame sides to provide a continuous rectangular seat, and a transparent sheet held upon the said seat by a glazing bead which fits inside and is detachably secured to said flange.

8. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said blind comprises a pleated sheet whose pleats are parallel to the said rails, the two opposed edges of said sheet being anchored to a corresponding one of two bars carried by and displaceable lengthwise of the said guide rods, said means for operating the blind being detachably connected to at least one of the said bars.

9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein one of the said bars is displaceable lengthwise of the guide rods, means accessible from inside said frame detchably securing the other of said bars to the adjacent one of the said rails, and said means for operating the blind including a cord detachably connected to the said displaceable bar at a location accessible from the interior of said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,379,412 Mertens May 24, 1921 2,004,398 Steenson June 11, 1935 2,202,358 Stone May 28, 1940 2,247,260 Stone June 24, 1941 2,269,579 Chilton Jan. 13, 1942 2,557,978 Krumm June 26, 1951 2,845,116 Persson July 29, 1958 

1. IN A WINDOW, THE COMBINATION OF A FRAME ADAPTED TO BE PERMANENTLY SECURED IN A WALL STRUCTURE AND HAVING TWO OPPOSED PARALLEL, CHANNEL SECTION SIDES WHICH OPEN TO THE INTERIOR OF THE FRAME, TWO RAILS RESPECTIVELY SEATED WHOLLY WITHIN AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY FROM END TO END OF THE SAID SIDES TO CLOSE THE SIDE CHANNELS, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID RAILS BEING OF U-SHAPED CHANNEL SECTION AND HAVING ITS MOUTH ADJACENT TO THE FLOOR OF THE SIDE IN WHICH IT IS SEATED, MEANS ACCESSIBLE FROM INSIDE SAID FRAME FOR DETACHABLY SECURING SAID RAILS IN THE CORRESPONDING SIDES, PARALLEL GUIDE RODS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE SAID RAILS, MEANS FOR RELEASING THE GUIDE RAILS ACCESSIBLE FROM INSIDE SAID FRAME DETACHABLY SECURING THE GUIDE RODS TO SAID ONE CHANNEL SECTION RAIL, ANCHOR MEANS RELEASABLY SECURING THE GUIDE RODS THE OTHER RAIL AND SO ARRANGED THAT WHEN A GUIDE ROD IS DETACHED FROM SAID CHANNEL SECTION RAIL THE GUIDE ROD IS DESPLACEABLE LONGITUDINALLY IN THE SAID OTHER 